Composite mantle system

ABSTRACT

This invention is a composite mantle system for providing a room with a simple shelf mantle which can be added to from time to time to make a more elaborate mantle system and with provision for including a simulated fireplace under the mantle as part of the mantle system. Most parts are compatible with one another and constructed so that installations and additions can be made on a modular &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;do-it-yorself&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; basis, and most of the parts are designed for construction from heavy kraft paper or corrugated paperboard, or plastic materials, or a combination of them, to provide an inexpensive form of the invention. Combinations of parts and connecting brackets provide for additions without having to tear out previous constructions to permit the additions to the system.

United States Patent {54] COMPOSITE MANTLE SYSTEM 8 Claims, 34 DrawingFigs.

52 U.S.Cl. 108/152, 52/36, 52/311 51 int. Cl ..A47g29/02, E04fl9/08 soFieldofSearch ..52/36,311,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,187 11/1885 Dow PrimaryExaminer-Price C. Faw, Jr. Attorney-Sandoe, Hopgood & CalimafdeABSTRACT: This invention is a composite mantle system for providing aroom with a simple shelf mantle which can be added to from time to timeto make a more elaborate mantle system and with provision for includinga simulated fireplace under the mantle as part of the mantle system.Most parts are compatible with one another and constructed so thatinstallations and additions can be made on a modular do-it-yorselfbasis, and most of the parts are designed for construction from heavykraft paper or corrugated paperboard, or plastic materials, or acombination of them, to provide an inexpensive form of the invention.Combinations of parts and connecting brackets provide for additionswithout having to tear out previous constructions to permit theadditions to the system.

PATENTED HAYZS SHEET 3 [IF 3 r an szi 32 ATTORNEYS.

COMPOSITE'MANTLE SYSTEM I BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONConstructions for providing continuous mural scenes made up of modularpanels, are disclosed in my U.S. Pat.- No. 3,447,274, issued June 3,I969. The invention described in this specification provides other meansfor supporting such modular panels and for rotating them into and out ofviewing position in combination with a composite mantle system. Thecomposite mantle system may also be constructed without this feature ofmodular sections for scenic murals.

Fireplaces and mantles are decorative but expensive additions to a room,and this invention provides a system of construction which obtains both,with their decorative advantages and the usefulness of a mantle, atminimal expense. The mantle system is made'so that it can be changed toanother style,

or subsequently removed without damage to the building walls or floor.

One object of the invention is to provide a system that initiallyprovides a simple mantle shelf to which additions can be made from timeto time, as by adding decorative supports immediately under the mantle,or pilasters extending to the floor, or a simulated fireplace under'themantle. Persons using this invention can satisfy their desire to changethe appearance of a room from time to time, or to further plan for afireplace, step-by-step with their own labor and as they feel they canafford to add to an ultimate mantle and fireplace system.

This invention provides a shelf element with brackets that connect witha walland that extend into recesses in the shelf element to provideinvisible supports that are especially suitable for use with multi-plycorrugated paperboard shelf structures, or a wood or plastic shelf.

One embodiment of the complete combination provides two horizontallyspaced, boxlike structures formed of stiff material with comers alongvertically extending lines to form front and sidewalls of pilasters forlocation against the wall of a room. Across the upper ends of thepilasters there is a shelf element consisting of multi-ply corrugatedpaperboard or a beam spanning the space between the pilasters andsupported by the pilasters with or without intervening decorativeelements or pilaster capitals, to form a fireplace opening. The mantlecan also be made of a one-piece, solid wood board or solid and sheetplastic material. The term board is used herein to designate not only aslab of wood or other material, I

but any equivalent element made up of laminations, whether solid orpartly hollow, as in the case of multi-ply corrugated paperboard.

The invention is preferably made in at least three major parts: twocolumnar supports, such as pilasters or columns, and the mantle. Formost of the constructions of this inven-' tion, full columns orpilasters are to be considered mechanical equivalents.

There are means for holding the pilasters to the desired shape and thesemeans, which can be clamping diaphragms inserted in the pilasters, canbe originally assembled as part of a setup pilaster supplied to apurchaser; or they may be put into the pilasters when the invention isassembled at its place of use, depending upon the condition in which theparts are supplied.

One construction for holding the walls of each pilaster at the desiredangular relation to one another uses flaps extending inwardly andgenerally diagonally from each corner of the pilaster and there areclamping means within the'pilasters for clamping the flaps together andthe clamping means have edges that contact with walls of the pilastersto maintain these walls at right angles or any other desired angle withrespect to one another. The flaps add much to the vertical strength ofthe pilasters.

When the pilasters are decoratively embossed with horizontally extendingembossing, a construction is used with two layers for the pilaster walland with the weight of the mantle carried by the inner layer so thatembossing of the outer layer is not distorted by the weight of themantle which may be suffrcient to affect the embossing if the weight ofthe mantle had to v BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING In the drawing, forminga part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate correspondingparts in all the views:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a mantle shelf made in accordance withthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, diagrammatic, sectional'view of the mantleshelf shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 and4-4 respectively, of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary 'view, similar to FIG. 2, but showing a modifiedform of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showingbrackets under shelf 1 1a;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modified construction;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged, diagrammatic, sectional view taken on theline 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10-are sectional views taken on the section lines 9-9 and10-10, respectively, of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. land 2 but showing a" mantle shelfwith simulated decorative br'ackets under the shelf;

FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic sectional view I taken on theline 12-12 of FIG. 11;

'FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is afront elevation showing a modified construction of the simulatedbrackets of FIGS. 11-14,

FIG. 16 is a front elevation of the invention with pilasters assembledwith the mantle shelf; 7

FIG. 16a is a diagrammatic front elevation showing a column constructionwhich can be used in place of the pilasters shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 16b is a sectional view on the line l6b-I6b of FIG. 16a;

' taken on the line 20-20 of FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 22-22 of FIG.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken through the front walls of the mantleand pilasters on the line 25-25 of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 27;

FIG. 27 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 27-27 of FIG.21;

FIG. 28 is a front view, partly broken away and in section, showing amodified form of the invention shown in FIG. 21;

FIG. 29 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 29-29 of FIG.28;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged sectional view taken 'on the line 30-30 of FIG.28;

FIG. 31 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 30 but showing a modifiedconstruction; and

FIG. 32 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 32-32 of FIG. 28and showing a modified clamping means from that shown in FIG. 27.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a mantle shelf 11 witha decorative molding 12 attached to andextending along the lower surfaceof the shelf.

The shelf 11 is preferably made of several boards or layers l3, l4 and(FIG. 2) superimposed upon one another. These boards or layers can beconnected together by adhesive bonding or otherwise, if desired, butthey are preferably made of strong enough material so that they providea mantle shelf of the necessary strength without bonding them to oneanother. Each of the boards or layers 13, 14 and 15 is shown asconstructed of multi-ply corrugated paperboard. The top and bottomboards or layers 13 and 15 are shown as three-ply boards; and the boardor layer 14, which is sandwiched between the boards 13 and 15, is shownas a two-ply board. Other combinations can be made, such as of solidwood, or solid or sheet plastic.

The mantle shelf is supported by brackets 17 and these brackets extendinto the mantle shelf 11 in the construction illustrated in FIGS. l4.Each of the brackets 17 includes an end plate 18 (FIG; 4) with aforwardly extending portion 19 which is of T-shape or other crosssection. The bracket 17 is connected with a wall 21 (FIG. 2) byfastening means comprising screws 22 which extend through openings 23(FIG. 4) in the end plate of the bracket. The end plate 18 can be madewith the transversely spaced openings 23 substantially less than thewidth of a standard stud, but is preferably connected to the wall byusing screws 22 located as near as possible to the center of a stud andwith the screws large enough to secure the bracket with screws on onlyone side of the end plate 18.

The openings in the mantle shelf 11 for receiving the brackets 17 arepreferably made by cutting a channel in one or more of the boards 13-15before the boards are superimposed upon one another. For example: thereis a narrow channel 25 (FIG. 3) in the bottom board 15 and there is aslot 26 cut through the middle board 14 with the lower portion of theslot of the same width as the channel 25 and in position to registerwith the channel 25; and with the channel 25 and the slot 26 wider thanthe corresponding parts of the T-shaped bracket 17 the fore-and-aftdepth of the mantle shelf 11 and the cutout portions of the boards whichprovide the openings for the bracket 17 terminate adjacent to the endsof the brackets so that the front portion of the mantle shelf has nomaterial cut away, as will be evident from the sectional view shown inFIG. 2.

In order to prevent the mantle shelf I1 from moving forward in thedirection of extent of the brackets 17, there is a sharp protuberance 28extending upwardly from each bracket 17, and this protuberance piercesthe material of the lower surface of the top board 13 to the extentillustrated in FIG. 2 so as to provide an anchor for holding the topboard 13 against movement in any direction.

The mantle shelf 11 can be assembled by bringing the boards 13, 14 and15 together so as to register the cutout portions that provide thechannels for the brackets 17.

The shelf 11 can be made of as many layers or plies as necessaryfor thedesired beam strength. It is preferred that any laminated constructionsbe made at the factory, and in order to make it possible to place thefactory assembled multiply boards on the brackets 17, the channels oropenings in the boards are preferably made as high as the brackets 17,including the protuberances 28 of the brackets. This permits insertionof the brackets into the openings in the board or mantle until thebrackets are at their full depth into the openings. The assembly is thencompleted by pressing the board down on the brackets so that theprotuberances 28 pierce the upper surface of the bracket openings andthereby anchor the shelf or mantle against horizontal movement withrespect to the brackets.

A top sheet 32 is attached over the upper surface of the top board 13,down the front and side edges of all of the boards 13, 14 and 15 andthen under the lower surface of the bottom board 15. Such a sheet isusually painted or preprinted with decorative surface treatment whichmay resemble marble or wood grain, or any solid color or pattern, asdesired. The sheet 32 can have pressure-sealing adhesive on the backsurface with a release sheet, or it-can be adhered by the use of pasteor in any other known manner. If desired, the decorative molding 12 canbe bonded to the underside of the mantle shelf, as shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a modified construction in which a mantle shelf 11a is madeup of three boards 13a, 14a and 15a, which are similar to the boards l3,l4 and 15 of FIG. 3 except that the boards are not cut to provide anopening for receiving a bracket which is hidden inside the mantle shelf.In FIG. 5 a bracket 36 is used and this bracket is attached to the wall21 by screws 22. It can have the same cross section as the bracket theshelf, as in the case of the brackets shown in the other FIGS. and morethan two brackets can be used in any case where extra strength orsupport is necessary. The shelf can be assembled in the same way asdescribed for the shelf 11 and it can be assembled before being placedon the brackets. It is held against displacement on the brackets 36 by apointed protuberance 28a extending upward from each bracket 36.

FIG. 7 shows another mantle shelf 11b which can be a threeboardconstruction, if desired, but which is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as made oftwo boards 13b and 15b, each of which is three-pIy-corrugatedpaperboard. The mantle shelf 11b is supported by brackets 38 which areof I-beam or T-beam cross section with an end plate 39 attached to thewall by screws 40; and there is a sharp protuberance 28b extending fromthe top of the bracket 38 for piercing the top board 13b to preventlateral displacement of the mantle shelf.

FIG. 9 shows the top board l3b.with a shallow channel confronting adeeper channel 42 in the bottom board 15b. The channel 42 is of uniformwidth throughout its full height to receive the bracket 38. The mantleshelf 11b is otherwise quite similar to the mantle shown in the otherviews except that it is made of only two boards instead of three, butthis can be compensated for by using more supporting channels 38 alongthe length of the mantle shelf. FIG. 8 shows a simulated molding 44formed at the lower surface of the bottom board 1511 by a portion of acovering 32 secured to the mantle shelf 11b.

FIG. 11 shows a mantle shelf lllc which is constructed from two boards13c and 150, similar to the boards 13b and 15b of FIG. 8 but supportedby brackets 46 attached to the wall 21 by screws 22, as shown in FIG.13. The sectional view in FIG. 12 shows the wall 21 constructed ofplasterboard 48 on studs 49 into which the screws 22 extend. Thebrackets 46 are of special construction so that they can be used to holddecorative simulated brackets 52. These simulated brackets 52 are madeof sheet material or other hollow construction and they are not intendedactually to serve as supporting brackets for the mantle shelf 11. Itshould be understood that the mantle shelf 11c can be supported from thewall in the same way as the mantle shelves 11 and 11b, and if thecomposite mantle system of this invention is installed by a user whodoes not install decorative brackets 52 when initially installing themantle shelf, then the mantle shelf will be supported by the internalbrackets 17 and 38, described above, and the added brackets 46 willserve the purpose of providing means for holding the large simulateddecorative brackets 52 in place.

Each of the brackets 46 has a top portion 53 which contacts with thebottom of the shelf 11c, and the sides of the portion 53 extend downwardand then fold back to form flanges 56 on both sides of the bracket forholding edge portions 58 of the sheet material from which the simulatedbracket 52 is constructed. The bracket 46 has downwardly extendingportions 60 formed from an extension of one end of the top portion 53and preferably extending below the folded sides and with openings 62 forreceiving the screws 22 which connect the bracket 46 to the wall 21.

The shape of the simulated ornamental bracket 52, as shown in FIGS. 11and 12, is representative of decorative designs which can be used underthe mantle shelf. FIG. shows another representative decorative design 52which resembles a column capital.

Instead of using the bracket 46 of FIGS. 12 and 13 to support adecorative simulated bracket 52, a bracket 46b (FIG. 9) can be used.This bracket 46b has a top portion 53b and only single flanges 63 at thesides of its upper end portion and it has a projection 64t for spacingthe mantle 11b from the upper portion 53b so that there is space forreceiving the edge portions 58 of the decorative bracket 52 between theshelf 11b and the upper portion 53b of the bracket 46b. If desired, theprojection 64! can be omitted, so that a decorative bracket can be usedwhich has a continuous top wall across the bracket 46b.

FIG. 16 shows a mantle shelf 11d which is shown as similar to the mantleshelf 11c which can be supported from the wall by any of the bracketconstructions previously described. The composite mantle system shown inFIG. 16 has been further elaborated by providing columnar supports whichmay be pilasters or columns but are here shown as pilasters 64 and assimulated supports for the mantle 11d. Each of the pilasters 64 has asimple capital 66 at its upper end but if the pilasters are added to asystem which already has decorative brackets, such as the bracket 52 ofFIG. 12 or 52 of FIG. 15, then the omamental brackets 52 are removed.

Each of the pilasters 64 can be constructed of corrugated paperboard orheavy kraft paper or plastic, as can the decorative simulated brackets52 and 52'. Grooves 68 can be formed in the outside surface of thepilasters 64.

FIG. 16a shows a column 64a, and such columns can be used in place ofthe pilasters 64 of FIG. 16. This column 64a extends substantially tothe floor and if not long enough fully to reach the floor, shims 64areplaced under the column 640.

A base 65 is located at the Barrera ofthecdlifinfi m fid this base 65extends up far enough to hide the shims 645 in cases where any shims areused. The base 65 has a top 65t (FIG. 16b) which covers the upper end ofthe base except for a cutout 65c into which the column 64a extends sothat the column does not prevent the base 65 from reaching all the wayto the wall 21. The cutout 650 has a rounded front edge for receivingone half of the circumference of the column 64a. A rearward section 651of the top of the ba-fe 65 fit; in behind the column 64a and extendsfrom the wall 21 to the rearward surface of the column 64a so as tocover and hide the cutout 65c.

FIG. 17 shows one of the pilasters 64 in section. It has a front wall 70and sidewalls 62. The pilaster is connected to the wall 21, from whichthe mantle shelf lid is supported, by a fixed anchoring means 74attached to the wall by screws 76. Fastening means 78; secured to theinside surface of the front wall 70, are shaped to engage the anchoringmeans 74 with a snap action when a bulbous end 80 of the fasteningmeans78 is pushed into spring clamps 82 on the front of the fixedanchoring means 74. Thus the fixed anchoring means 74 can be attached tothe wall 21 before the pilasters are put in position and the pilasterscan then be connected to the wall by the fastening means 78 and thefixed anchoring means 74 without having access to the inside of thepilasters at the time of making the connection to the wall behind them.

A final addition to the composite mantle system is made by including asimulated fireplace 84 under the mantle shelf 11d and between thepilasters 64. This simulated fireplace includes a front panel 86 whichextends from the simulated mantle 1 1d or from the level of anyornamental structure located below the mantle shelf, such as theornamental molding 12 of FIG. 1; and the front panel 86 extends all theway from one pilaster 64 to the other. The upper edge of the front panel86 need not be located behind the mantle shelf 11d which is alreadyconnected to the wall, and it can contact snugly against the adjacentsidewalls 72 (FIG. 17) of the pilasters 64. The front panel 86 can haveits edge portion bent at an angle to the front or the panel 86 toprovide an edge portion 88 that bears against the sidewall 72 of thepilaster, and if desired, this edge portion 88 can also be bent inwardto provide another angular part 90 which can be slipped in behind theadjacent edge of the side 72 of the pilaster.

The fireplace 84 includes sloping walls 92 and a backwall 94 which areas high as an opening 96 provided in the front panel 86 to frame thefireplace 84. These panels 92 and 94 are preferably of one-piececonstruction and should extend slightly higher than the top of theopening 96 so that their upper edges are not visible.

There is a bottom panel 97 which forms a simulated hearth and bottom forthe fireplace 84. This bottom panel 97 preferably extends forwardsomewhat beyond the pilasters 64, as shown in FIG. 17; and the panels 92and 94 and also the front panel 86, rest on top of this bottom panel 97which extends beyond the rearward sides of the panels 92 and 94 so thatthe rearward end of the panel 97 is not visible. The front panel 86 andthe fireplace panels 92 and 94 can be made of corrugated paperboard, orheavy kraft paper. So can the bottom panel 97.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGS. 18-20. In theconstruction illustrated in these views, a simulated fireplace andbookcase shelf structure similar to a room divider is located at somedistance in front of the wall 21. One bookcase element is supported froma floor 112 by a thrust bearing 113 with a flange 114 substantiallyflush with the floor 112. A pipe stud 116 extends upward from the floorand the stud is held against tilting by connecting it with the flooreither by means of screws extending through the flange 114 or by othermeans which anchor the stud 116 rigidly to the floor or the beams bywhich the floor is supported. The bookcase unit 110 is shown with bottomcabinets enclosed by doors 120 and 121 which are preferably slidingdoors. The bookcase unit 110 also has a drawer 122 and a shelf 124 whichcan be used to support a television set 126. There are other shelves 128for holding books 129 or for holding plates 130 or other articles. Apipe stud 132, attached to the upper end of the bookcase unit 110,extends into a socket in a ceiling 134 of the room; and the bookcaseunit 110 can rotate on the axis of the studs 116 and 132. This axis mustbe spaced from the wall 21 far enough to permit the bookcase unit 110 torotate, and the clearance circle for such rotation is indicated in'FlG.19 by the broken line 136. There is a picture panel 138.0n the back ofthe bookcase unit 110 so that when the bookcase unit is rotated from theposition shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, the blank panel 138, which forms theback of the bookcase unit 1 10, faces the room and appears as a solidpicture wall.

There is another bookcase unit 110' which is preferably of the sameconstruction as the bookcase unit 110 and which has a panel 138' as abackwall. As shown in the drawing, the bookcase unit 110' has drawers122' in place of the cabinets of the other bookcase unit, but it will beunderstood that the arrangements of shelves, doors and drawers areoptional. Other parts associated with the bookcase unit 110 areindicated by the same reference characters as in the case of the unit110 but with a prime appended.

Between the bookcase units 110 and 110 there is a composite mantlesystem unit 142 which has studs 144 at its upper and lower ends on whichit can rotate about the axes of these studs.

The composite mantle system unit 142 is constructed with a bottom plate146 forming a hearth and a bottom for the fireplace and the fireplace isformed by sloping sidewalls 148 which extend rearwardly to a back panel150. The front of the back panel 150 is decorated to resemble thebackwall of the simulated fireplace; but the other side of the backpanel 150 is a panel which matches the back surfaces of the panels 138and 138. When all of the units 110, 110 and 142 are rotated l80 fromtheir positions shown in FIG. 19, the backs of the panels 138, 138' and150 form'a substantially continuous wall with very narrow spaces betweentheir contiguous edges. In order to obtain this result, the compositemantle system unit is made with its back panel 150 so wide that itsclearance circle, when rotated about the axes of the studs 144,intersects the clearance circles 136 and 136 but this does not interferewith the operation because the bookcase units 110 and 110' are movedangularly about their axes into oblique positions in which they do notinterfere with the rotation of the panel 150 about the axis of the studs144.

The fireplace has columnar supports or pilasters 154 and otherdecorations which can be made of kraft paper or corrugated paperboard solong as enough of the frame of the composite mantle system unit has thestiffness to maintain relative rigidity between the upper and lowerstuds 144. The frame can be made of wood.

FIGS. 21 and 22 show a simulated fireplace construction having twopilasters 316 and 318 extending vertically and spaced from one anotherto leave a fireplace opening between them. A mantle 320 comprises ahollow beam and extends across the upper end portions of the pilasters316 and 318 and completes the framing of the fireplace opening. It willbe understood that any of the mantles shown on sheet 1 of the drawingscan be used with the fireplace of FIGS. 21 and 22 and with that of FIG.28.

The fireplace shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is constructed for location in acorner formed by walls 322 and 324 of a room in which the fireplace isto be used. There is'a bottom panel 326 which extends from one pilasterto the other and which extends for some distance forward from thepilaster to provide a hearth 328. This panel 326 is appropriatelydecorated to resemble brick or tile or other hearth material.

A side panel 332 extends rearwardly from the side of the pilaster 316which confronts the other pilaster 318 and another side panel 334 issimilarly related to the pilaster 318. These side panels 332 and 334have rearward portions 332a and 334a which converge toward one anotherat an angle of substantially 90 so that the portions 332a and 334a canlie against the walls 322 and 324 which form the comer of the room. Aback panel 336 extends across the rearward end of the fireplace betweenthe panels 332 and 334. If desired, the panels 332, 334 and 336 can beof one-piece construction with a score line at their lines of junctureand such a construction is shown in FIG. 22.

It is not essential that there by any top panel at the upper ends of thepanels 332, 334 or 336 because these panels can extend upward far enoughto be hidden by the mantle 320, but it is practical to use panels ofsmaller size if the structure is made with a top panel 338 which spansthe upper ends of the panels 332 and 334 and which extends rearwardly tothe back panel 336. When such a construction is used, the upper ends ofthe panels 332 and 334 may slope downwardly, as illustrated in FIG; 21.A more realistic effect can be obtained by having a "flue opening" 340through the upper end of the top panel 338.

The mantle 320 is of hollow construction and is made with verticallyextending walls including end walls 342, a front wall 344 and a rearwall 346 with a seam 348 where one wall is exbookcase tended to overlapanother wall, as in conventional box constructions.

This shell of the mantle structure extends downward 'toa bottom edge 348(FIGS. 21 and 22). In the construction illustratedthere is a molding 350attached to the front wall 344. This molding 350 can be made hollow ofsheet material bonded to the front wall 344 or it can be made of wood orother appropriate material fastened to the front wall 344.

The space enclosed by the walls 342, 344 and 346 is closed at its upperend by a top wall 354 which forms the shelf surface of the mantle. Thistop wall can be economically made of multi-ply corrugated paperboardwith a decorative molding 356 (FIG. 24) secured to its forward end andextending somewhat below the bottom surface of the corrugated paperboardto provide a front shoulder which overlaps the upper end of the frontwall 344. Afiat back sheet 358, attached to the rearward surface of thetop wall 344, extends downward behind the rear wall 346. Thus themolding 356 and flat panel 358 prevent rearward and forwarddisplacement, respectively,

of the top wall 354 on the hollow shell of the mantle 320. Otherrestraining pieces can be placed at the ends of the top wall 354, butthis is generally unnecessary.

The walls 342, 344 and 346 are preferably of one-piece construction butcan be made in other ways, if desired. When made of one-piececonstruction with sheet material, they are provided with score lines atthe corners so that the sheet material can be bent to the desiredangular relation of the corners of the walls, usually right angles. Theshell formedby the wall 342, 344 and 346 can be made of heavy kraftpaper or much lighter corrugated paperboard than is used for the topwall 354 since the loading is mostly vertical on the sidewalls.

FIGS. 22 and 26 show the construction of the pilaster 316. A similarconstruction is used for the pilaster 318. The pilaster 316 has a frontwall 362 which is shown with vertically extending embossed recesses 364.Sidewalls 366 extend rearwardly from both sides of the front wall 362.These walls 362 and 366 are preferably made of sheet material bent alongvertically extending lines to form corners 368 of the pilasters andthese comers are usually right angles, but other angular relations canbe used, if desired.

The walls 362 and 366 enclose a hollow space within the pilasters; andin the preferred construction there is an inner layer 370 of the walls362 an 366 for adding strength to the pilasters and especially forsupporting the vertical load on the pilaster, as will be more fullyexplained in connection with FIGS. 30 and 31.

It is not necessary that the pilaster 316 have any backwall since theback of the pilaster is not visible in the assembled construction. Inthe construction illustrated, however, the sidewalls 366 are connectedwith back panels 372, preferably of one-piece construction with thesidewalls 366, and this adds considerable stiffness to the pilasters andalso facilitates holding the pilasters to the desired cross section. Thebackwalls 372 are each less than half the width of the pilaster 316 soas to leave the confronting edges of the backwalls 372 spaced from oneanother for the introduction of clamping diaphragms into the pilaster.The inner layer 370 is bonded to the walls 362 and 366.

FIG. 27 shows the way in which the pilaster 316 is held with itssidewalls in the desired angular relation to one another. The portion ofthe inner layer 370 which is attached to each of the walls 362 and 366is made with a flap 376 and these flaps are bent inwardly alongdiagonally extending lines and are clamped together by the edges of anopening 378 at each comer of a stiff diaphragm 380. The diaphragm 380has its outer edges shaped to the desired cross section of the peripheryof the space enclosed by the walls of the pilaster 316, this shape beinga rectangle in the construction illustrated in the drawing. FIG. 26 is asectional view showing the thickness of the diaphragm 380. There may beseveral such diaphragms along the vertical length of the pilaster, thenumber necessary depending upon the stiffness of the sheet material fromwhich the walls of the pilaster are made. Other means can be used forclamping the flaps 376 together and these means'can be inserted into thepilaster through the opening between the back walls 372 (FIG. 22) whensetting up the pilaster.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show two constructions for supporting the mantle 320from the pilaster 318. In the construction shown in FIG. 24, the frontwall 344 of the mantle 320 has an inner layer 384 which rests on top ofthe inner layer 370 of the front wall 362 of the pilaster. The upperedge of the front of the wall 362 terminates a slight distance below thebottom edge 348 or the front wall of the mantle. Thus the weight of themantle is carried by the inner layer 370. When using a mantle supportedfrom the wall by brackets as illustrated on sheet 1, no provision formaking the pilasters 316 and 318 the real supports for the mantle isnecessary.

The bottom edge 348 of the front wall of the mantle extends slightlybelow the inner layer 384 so that the front walls of the pilaster andthe mantle have shoulders confronting one another as a result of thedifferent heights of respective layers of these front walls.

FIG. 25 shows a modified construction in which a front wall 262 has astiffener panel 385 connected to it and which fits as a slip jointbehind a front wall 344 of a mantle. The mantle structure rests on a topedge 386 of the front wall 362. Parts in FIG. 25 corresponding withthose in FIG. 24 are indicated by the same reference characters with aprime appended.

FIG. 28 shows another modified construction having pilasters 396 and 398corresponding to the pilasters 316 and 318 of the previous FIGS. Thesepilasters are preferably of one-piece, boxlike construction, each with afront wall 402 (FIG. 32), a backwall 404 and sidewalls 406. There arefolds 408 at the corners of the pilaster 396 and these folds are clampedby a diaphragm 410, similar to the diaphragm 380 previously describedbut shown with a modified shape of slot 412. The backwall 404 isdiscontinuous, as in the construction shown in FIG. 22, so that thediaphragm 410 can be inserted into the pilaster 396 at a locationintermediate the ends of the pilaster. There may be a plurality ofdiaphragms 410, if necessary, depending upon the stiffness of the sheetmaterial from which the walls 402,404 and 406 are made.

A mantle 420 spans the space between the pilasters 396 and 398 to framethe fireplace and there is a panel 424 with decoration 426 representingbrick or tile work as an inner frame around the fireplace space belowthe mantle 420 and inward of the pilasters 396 and 398.

The construction shown in FIG. 23 is intended for use against a flatwall as opposed to a corner of a room and for this reason the mantle 420has a top wall 428 which extends somewhat beyond the rest of the mantleat both ends and beyond the pilasters 396 and 398. Other decorativemolding 430 can also extend beyond the sides of the pilasters 396 and398 since the fireplace structure does not have to fit into a comer. Thespace framed by the fireplace structure is necessarily shallower in theconstruction shown in FIG. 28 since it can not be any deeper than thewidth of the sidewalls 406 which extend back to the wall of the roomalong which the structure of FIG. 28 is located.

FIG. 29 shows the construction of the mantle 420. It is a beamlikestructure, as in the case of the mantle shown in FIGS. 2l24; and it hasa front wall 436 which joins sidewalls 438 at each end of the mantle andthere is preferably a partial backwall 440, the construction beingsimilar to that shown in FIG. 23.

The top wall 428 is made up of multi-ply paperboard. in the constructionillustrated, and there is a depression 444 in the bottom ply of the topwall 428 for receiving the upper edges of the front wall 436 and thesidewalls 438. This interlocking construction prevents horizontaldisplacement of the top wall 428 with respect to the front wall 436 andsidewalls 438.

The front panel 424 is attached to a folded-under portion 446 of thefront wall 436 by brackets 448. The brackets 448 can be attached to thepanels by adhesive, bolts or other suitable fastening means.

Where the pilasters have simulated horizontally extending molding 454(FIG. 30), this effect may be obtained by embossing the front wall 362as shown in FIG. 30. Such horizontally extending embossing weakens theload-bearing strength of the front wall 362 and in order to prevent theload on the mantle from distorting the shape of the molding 454, thefront wall is made with an inner layer 370 which is free of embossingand provides the column strength for the pilaster 316.

FIG. 31 shows a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 30, thedifference in construction being the shape of the simulated molding 45,which is embossed on the front sheet 362' of the pilaster 316'. Theconstruction shown in FIG. 31 gives the pilasters the same cross sectionbelow the embossing as above, and permits attachment of the outerlamination to the inner layer 370 below the embossed molding 454 so thata stronger construction can be obtained.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, but changes and modifications can be made and some featuresmay be used in different combinations without departing from theinvention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination comprising a shelf, a functional bracket under theshelf, part of the top of the bracket being formed with an area thatbears against the superimposed shelf and the a remaining part of the topextending downward and then outwardly of the bearing area and generallyparallel to the shelf leaving space between the underside of the shelfand the side edges of the bracket to permit insertion into the space ofan edge portion of an ornamental structure that covers and hides thefunctional bracket, and with which the shelf and bracket are intended tobe used, and means for connecting one end of the functional bracket to awall.

2. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the functionalbracket being made of sheet material, part of which is folded back onitself in a generally vertical direction to provide stiffness for thebracket.

3. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by an ornamentalstructure being a simulated bracket under the shelf and enclosing thefunctional bracket, the ornamental bracket having edges that areinserted into the space between the shelf and the portion of the bracketthat is spaced below the shelf.

4. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf beinga mantle and there being functional brackets spaced from one anotherlengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least one of thefunctional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement of theshelf with respect to the functional brackets, the ornamental structurebeing simulated brackets, each of which covers and hides one of thefunctional brackets, the combination comprising a composite mantlesystem.

5. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf beinga mantle and being made of corrugated paper board and with smooth papercovering the top surface of the shelf and extending down a vertical faceof the mantle, a vertical edge thereof, and there being functionalbrackets, spaced from one another lengthwise of the shelf, an anchorextending from at least one of the functional brackets into the shelffor preventing displacement of the sheath with respect to the functionalbrackets, the ornamental structure being a simulated bracket thatrepresents a column capital.

6. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by the shelf beinga mantle and there being functional brackets spaced from one anotherlengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least one of thefunctional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement of theshelf with respect to the functional brackets, simulated supports forthe mantle extending from the mantle to the floor of the room and havingtheir upper ends enclosing and hiding the functional brackets.

7. The combination described in claim 6 characterized by the hollowsimulated supports for the mantle being pilasters made of sheetmaterial.

l2 place and removed independently of any removal and replacement of thefunctional brackets and the simulated structure that holds thefunctional brackets.-

1. The combination comprising a shelf, a functional bracket under theshelf, part of the top of the bracket being formed with an area thatbears against the superimposed shelf and the remaining part of the topextending downward and then outwardly of the bearing area and generallyparallel to the shelf leaving space between the underside of the shelfand the side edges of the bracket to permit insertion into the space ofan edge portion of an ornamental structure that covers and hides thefunctional bracket, and with which the shelf and bracket are intended tobe used, and means for connecting one end of the functional bracket to awall.
 2. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by thefunctional bracket being made of sheet material, part of which is foldedback on itself in a generally vertical direction to provide stiffnessfor the bracket.
 3. The combination described in claim 1 characterizedby an ornamental structure being a simulated bracket under the shelf andenclosing the functional bracket, the ornamental bracket having edgesthat are inserted into the space between the shelf and the portion ofthe bracket that is spaced below the shelf.
 4. The combination describedin claim 1 characterized by the shelf being a mantle and there beingfunctional brackets spaced from one another lengthwise of the shelf, ananchor extending from at least one of the functional brackets into theshelf for preventing displacement of the shelf with respect to thefunctional brackets, the ornamental structure being simulated brackets,each of which covers and hides one of the functional brackets, thecombination comprising a composite mantle system.
 5. The combinationdescribed in claim 1 characterized by the shelf being a mantle and beingmade of corrugated paper board and with smooth paper covering the topsurface of the shelf and extending down a vertical face of the mantle, avertical edge thereof, and there being functional brackets, spaced fromone another lengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at leastone of the functional brackets into the shelf for preventingdisplacement of the sheath with respect to the functional brackets, theornamental structure being a simulated bracket that represents a columncapital.
 6. The combination described in claim 1 characterized by theshelf being a mantle and there being functional brackets spaced from oneanother lengthwise of the shelf, an anchor extending from at least oneof the functional brackets into the shelf for preventing displacement ofthe shelf with respect to the functional brackets, simulated supportsfor the mantle extending from the mantle to the floor of the room andhaving their upper ends enclosing and hiding the functional brackets. 7.The combination described in claim 6 characterized by the hollowsimulated supports for the mantle being pilasters made of sheetmaterial.
 8. The combination described in claim 6 characterized by partof the ornamental structure including a simulated fireplace of a size tofit under the mantle and that is located between the simulated supportsand that can be inserted into place and removed independently of anyremoval and replacement of the functional brackets and the simulatedstructure that holds the functional brackets.